We had the good fortune of connecting with John C Yarrington and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi John, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Music has always been in the forefront of my life from early on. I played the piano, sang in church choir – received degrees in Music Education, Sacred Music and a DMA in choral conducting. I have spent 50 years in the service of the church-written articles – published anthems and books. Given workshops across this country and abroad.

I have taught choral music at Houston Baptist University – now retired presently teaching at the University of St. Thomas- still teaching private voice

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Music has been my life since I was 6 years old when I started piano lessons;. I was active in church as a youth, went to the University of Oklahoma to study music education. After my undergraduate degree, I went to Union Theological Seminary in New York to complete the Master of Church Music.. I came back to Norman, Oklahoma, to be the first full time director of music at the McFarlin United Methodist Church. I was very fortunate to have a situation brimming with possibilities. I was very green, but learned much – so much so that I began to be asked to lead workshops and festivals in the United States and Canada.

If one does not have a sense of humor, working in the church is difficult. I wrote several books – Somebody’s Got my Robe and Somebody’s Got My Hymnal., describing that special animal, the church choir member. In those books, I often made humorous observations which others had thought but not spoken.

After serving in Oklahoma for 13 years, I was called to First United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas, where I was privileged to work with an outstanding choir and members of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra for 10 years. While in Dallas I was able to complete work on my Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting from the University of Oklahoma.

The next ten years were spent in Little Rock, Arkansas, where I served Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church. While in Arkansas, I was fortunate to start the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Chorus, and was, for one season, the Conductor of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. I was also the artistic director of the Arkansas Chamber Singers.

After 50 years of directing choirs in churches, I was called to Houston Baptist University as Director of Choral Music and served there for 18 years. Now retired, I am still the director of the Chancel Choir of the First Presbyterian Church of Houston. During all these years I have served as a clinician for churches and schools and have taught private voice lessons. After retiring from HBU, I was called to become an adjunct Professor of Music at St. Thomas University in Houston where I currently teach Conducting classes.

As I mentioned earlier, I began writing while in my first position in Norman, Oklahoma. While there, I began a Youth Choir of 9th through 12th graders which grew to about 75 youth who were responsible for the early service every Sunday morning. This led to my first book, Building the Youth Choir, which is still in publication. Through the years, I have written and published several other books: Choir Crack ups, Have We Had This Conversation, and In Pursuit of Musical Excellence. The last two are used frequently as University text books. I have also published many anthems for church choirs.

I have been blessed to follow my passion all these years.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Houston is alive with artistic work – Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera and the Houston Ballet are definite places to visit.. There is the Holocaust Museum. The Asian Society Museum, Museum of Fine Art, and The Menil. We could easily spend a week touring museums, going to concerts, and eating great food. One place in particular is Gringos, with real Tex-Mex food and we shouldn’t forget Ninfa’s! There are wonderful restaurants serving an variety of food from many countries. Then, there’s the barbecue – wonderfully made – Goode and Company is one of the most popular. There are outstanding examples of architecture, both modern and traditional. Beautiful churches abound in Houston., from the basketball arena turned into Lakewood Church to the beautiful Co-Cathedral. Discovery Green holds many exciting activities and you can watch outstanding sports at NRG stadium and the Toyota Center. And the Rodeo!!! No better way to say “Welcome to Texas”!!!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have had many wonderful mentors throughout my life beginning with my church choir director at University Methodist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Ruth Fowler. While I attended the University of Oklahoma, my voice teacher was Orcenith Smith. He was responsible for my attendance at the Union Seminary and my return to my first position at McFarlin Church. While at Seminary I was able to work with Austin Lovelace who led me in my faith and in my career path. Over the years I have worked and studied with some of the greatest teachers and composers in the music world. These men and women have been my teachers, my friends, my mentors and my family–Alice Parker, Jane Marshall, Lloyd Pfautsch, Robert Shaw, Bev Henson, Ann Jones, Morten Lauridsen, Jim Jordan. My family has stood beside me through all these years of highs and lows and I am grateful to my wife, Diane, and all 6 of my wonderful children and many grandchildren.

Website: http://www.johnyarrington.com/

Email: john@johnyarrington.com

Image Credits
#1 a conducting pic #2 a conducting pic #3 radio show with Morten Lauridsen #4 funny picture of me =i love basketball and this was to show that in my retirement # 5 formal picture 3

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